The Majestic Quran

One recent welcome trend in the field of English translations of the Qur’an is the appearance of reader-friendly renderings which, apart from using simple English, seek also to relate the meaning and message of the Qur’an to our times. Ahmad Zaki Hammad’s and Mustafa Khattab’s translations typify this valuable approach. Musharraf Hussain’s venture is the latest addition to this new category. His extensive experience of teaching the Qur’an in the UK appears to have prompted him to provide the Qur’anic guidance in a reader-friendly format. As a result, far from delving into the finer points of tafsir, circumstantial setting, history and geography and jurisprudence, etc., he is concerned more with ‘the Qur’anic lessons’ which he deduces from the contents of the Surahs. His Introduction to the Surahs, section headings, brief footnotes and Index are geared towards making the Qur’an more accessible and comprehensible to general readers. Moreover, his use of simple English also facilitates a better understanding for lay readers. Hussain’s concern to relate the Qur’anic guidance to our times and everyday life situations is laudable. Through his side headings and footnotes, he has been successful in highlighting the relevance of several Qur’anic statements in today’s context. Here are some instances in point: